Aib-engiwe



N,PETER& PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIE. WASHINGTON, Dv C.

' the center of saine.

TD STATES 'l PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. RICE, OF CLINTON, MASSAOHSETTS.

AIR-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent o. 23,495, dated April 5, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. RICE, of Clinton. in the county of)Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulMode of Operating the Plungers or Pistons in Air-Engines; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l represents a top view of my machine.Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectiontaken through Fig. 4 is a front end elevation looking toward thecylinder.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the iigures.

The nature of my invention consists in giving a rotary motion to theplungers or pistons in air-engines and in keeping their entire surfacecontinually lubricated, thereby overcoming the friction and preventingthe sudden wearing out of the packing.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

(a) represents the base or platform on which the engine rests.

(b) represents the cylinder and (o) the plunger or piston.

(d) represents the plunger or piston rod the outer end of which is madesmaller so as to form a shoulder. It is then passed through a hole madein the cross-head (e) to the shoulder, where it is secured by means of ascrew and washer on the outer end.

(f) represents the crank shaft on each end of which is placed thebalance wheels (g, g).

(2', represent crank pins passing through one end of the connecting rods(:J7 7L) into the balance wheels (g, g).

(j, j) represent stands the upper parts of which are provided with slotsin which works the cross head (76) represents a ratchet wheel made onthe outer end of the plunger or piston (C).

(Z) represents an irregular shaped lever one end of which is connectedwith the crosshead (c) and the other reaches over and lies upon one ofthe stands (j,

(m) represents an inclined plane made on one of the stands (j, j).

(a) represents a ratchet hook one end of which is connected with thelever (Z) by means of the stud pin (0) and the other which is providedwith a hook hangs down readyto act upon the ratchet wheel (7s).

(p) represents an oil pan placed underneath the plunger or piston (o).

(g) represents a sponge or any other suitable substance placed withinthe pan (p) for absorbing the oil and transmitting it to the undersurface of the plunger or piston (c).

(r) represents the packing, and (s) a spring pressing against thepacking (1) to keep 1t against the plunger or piston (c).

(t) represents an air-passage made in the cylinder (b) and through whichthe heated air is forced from the heater to impel the piston. It is alsothe passage through which the exhaust air escapes into the heater againon the return stroke of the plunger or piston. From the heater itescapes through a valve into the atmosphere. The heated air being forcedthrough the air passage (t) into the cylinder (b) presses against theplunger or piston (c) causing it to move forward. The plunger or pistonrod pushes the crosshead (e) forward and the balance wheels (g g) beingconnected with the crosshead (e) by means of the connecting rods (It,It) are thus set in motion. The momentum given to the balance wheels carries them beyond the center of motion and continues the return stroke,producing a complete revolution. The connecting rods (7L, 71.) beingbrought back by the revolution of the balance wheels (g, g) bring theplunger or piston (c) through its connection with the cross-head (e) andthe plunger or piston rod (cl) back again to its former position beforebeing acted upon.

The end of the irregular lever (Z) which rests upon the stand is carriedup the inclined plane (m), on the back stroke of the plunger or piston(c). This raises the part of the lever (l) to which the ratchet hook (a)is attached and the hook being lifted catches into the ratchet wheel(7e) causing it to turn the plunger or piston (c). The lower surface ofthe plunger or piston (o) at each stroke rubs against the sponge (g) andis thoroughly and evenly lubricated,

and at each back stroke a different part of the surface of the plungeror piston (c) is presented for lubricati0n,.and so on. It is a wellknown and established fact that so long as two surfaces which rubagainst each ICQ other are kept t-horoughly lubricated there is but verylittle friction and consequently but little Wear. The trouble heretoforeexperienced in the Working of air-engines has been that the high degreeof heat and great dryness of the air causes the lubricating o-il toevaporate very fast and unless the Whole surface of the plunger orpiston is kept thoroughly lub-ricated which in the mode vusually adoptedit is found exceedingly ditlieult to do, more or Yless friction musttake place, and consequently frequent lealrages are the result.V I thinkthat this difficulty is almost entirely overcome by the use of myinvention as no part of the plunger or piston can fail of beingthoroughly and evenly lubricated so long as any oil is kept in the oilpan Another advantage to be derived from the use of my invention is thatthe oil being so evenly put on there Will be but very Y little waste andthat Which falls is caught in the oil pan beneath. One otheradvantage tobe derived is that it may be easily and cheaply constructed.

Having described the several parts of my invention and pointed out someof the advantages to be derived therefrom What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent isl. The giving to the plungers or pistonsof air-engines a rotary motion, for the reasons specified.

2. I-also claim giving to the plungers or pistons of air-engines arotary motion in combination with the means employed for Vkeeping theentire surfaces of the plungers or pistons continually lubricated, inthe manner and form and for the purposes, substantially as set forth.

Clinton, Mass., February Bd, 1859.

BENJAMIN F. RICE.

Witnesses:

vJOSHUA THIssELL, J r., CHAS. W. WoRoEs'rER.

